Dark Scribe Magazine, the virtual magazine dedicated to the books that keep readers up at night, is proud to announce its 2nd Annual Black Quill Awards.

The Black Quill Awards will once again be handed out in (7) categories and will honor those works of dark genre literature - horror, suspense, and thrillers - from both mainstream and small press publishers. While six of the awards will recognize literary efforts, one of the awards will recognize book trailer production -- a growing marketing aspect of dark genre publishing.

The eligibility period for DSM's yearly awards runs from November 1st through October 31st. Nominations are announced on or around December 1st each year; winners are announced on or around February 1st.

Nominations for the Black Quills are editorial-based, with both the editors and active contributing writers submitting nominations in each of the (7) categories. Once nominations are announced, the readers of DSM will have an opportunity to cast their votes for their picks in each category. In a unique spin intended to celebrate both critical and popular success, two winners will be announced in each category - Reader's Choice and Editor's Choice. Winners will receive recognition in DSM, inclusion in press release materials announcing nominations and winners, a virtual icon to be used on their own website, and a handsome award certificate.

Readers must be registered to vote. Directions on how to register can be found at the bottom of the nominations page. Only one vote per email address will be accepted.

Please note a change to this year's awards program. The Best Author Website and Best Cover Art categories have been dropped from the Black Quills and will be honored with their own mid-year awards.

A complete list of all the nominees follows:

DARK GENRE NOVEL OF THE YEAR: (Novel-length work of horror, suspense, or thriller from mainstream publisher; awarded to the author)

o Duma Key by Stephen King (Scribner)
o Generation Dead by Daniel Waters (Hyperion)
o Ghost Radio by Leopoldo Gout (William Morrow)
o Leather Maiden by Joe R. Landsdale (Knopf)
o The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins)
o The Price by Alexandra Sokoloff (St. Martin's Press)
o We Disappear by Scott Heim (Harper Perennial)

BEST SMALL PRESS CHILL: (Novel or novella published by small press publisher; awarded to the author)

o Into the Cruel Sea by Rich Ristow (Skullvines Press)
o Johnny Gruesome by Gregory Lamberson (Medallion Press)
o Miranda by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)
o The Confessions of St. Zach by Gene O'Neill (Bad Moon Books)
o The Shallow End of the Pool by Adam-Troy Castro (Creeping Hemlock Press)
o Veins by Lawrence C. Connolly (Fantasist Enterprises)

BEST DARK GENRE FICTION COLLECTION: (Anthology or single author collection, any publisher; awarded to the author or editor[s])

o History Is Dead: A Zombie Anthology, edited by Kim Paffenroth (Permuted Press)
o Inferno: New Tales of Terror and the Supernatural, edited by Ellen Datlow (Tor Books)
o Killers, edited by Colin Harvey (Swimming Kangaroo Press)
o Mama's Boys and Other Dark Tales by Fran Friel (Apex Publications)
o Poe's Children: The New Horror, edited by Peter Straub (Doubleday)
o The Number 121 to Pennsylvania by Kealan Patrick Burke (Cemetery Dance)

BEST DARK GENRE BOOK OF NON-FICTION: (Any dark genre non-fiction subject, any publisher; awarded to the author[s] or editor[s])

o A Hallowe'en Anthology: Literary and Historical Writers over the Centuries by Lisa Morton (McFarland)
o Beauty and Dynamite by Alethea Kontis (Apex Publications)
o Book of Lists: Horror Edited by Amy Wallace, Del Howison, and Scott Bradley (Harper)
o Horror Isn't a Four-Letter Word by Matthew Warner (Guide Dog Books)
o The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi (Grand Central Publishing)
o Zombie CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead by Jonathan Maberry (Citadel Press)

BEST DARK SCRIBBLE: (Single work, non-anthology short fiction appearing in a print or virtual magazine; awarded to the author)
o "Afterlife" by Sarah Langan (Horror World / Virtual)
o "Captain's Lament" by Stephen Graham Jones (Clarkesworld #17 / Virtual)
o "Dust and Bibles" by Michael Colangelo (Chizine #35 / Virtual)
o "Teeth" by Stephen Dedman (Clarkesworld #18 / Virtual)
o "The Blog at the End of the World" by Paul Tremblay (Chizine #38 / Virtual)
o "Turtle" by Lee Thomas (Doorways Magazine #4 / Print)

BEST DARK GENRE SHORT FICTION MAGAZINE: (Any print or online magazine that published primarily short fiction during the eligibility period; awarded to the editor[s])

o Apex Magazine - Editor Jason Sizemore
o Cemetery Dance - Editor Richard Chizmar
o ChiZine - Editor Brett Alexander Savory
o Clarkesworld - Editors Sean Wallace and Neil Clarke (current), Nick Mamatas (former)
o Doorways Magazine - Editors Brian Yount and Mort Castle
o Shroud Magazine - Editor Timothy Deal

BEST DARK GENRE BOOK TRAILER: (Book video promoting any work of fiction or non-fiction; awarded to the video producer or publisher)

o Daemon / Production by Yossi Sasson (Author: Harry Shannon)
o Day by Day Armageddon / Production by Ivan Simoncini (Author: JL Bourne)
o Duma Key / Production by Scribner (Author: Stephen King)
o Ghost Radio (Trailer 1) / Production by William Morrow (Author: Leopoldo Gout)
o Sweetheart / Production by Circle of Seven (Author: Chelsea Cain)
o The Price / Production by Circle of Seven Productions (Author: Alexandra Sokoloff)

HOW TO VOTE...

To vote, you must be a registered reader. Once registered, log in and click on the Reader Ballot button at right. Only one ballot per email address will be accepted.

Voting closes at midnight EST on Sunday, January 25th, 2009.

Winners will be announced Monday, February 2nd, 2009.